Newsletter

Brought to you by: www.nedbankrunningclub.co.za

2 March 2026

Nedbank News

Newsletter #02/26 NBRC – Vanderbijlpark Feb ‘26

“Running is so symbolic of life. You must drive yourself to overcome the obstacles. You might feel that you cannot. but then you find your inner strength, and realize you’re capable of so much more than you thought” – Arthur Blank

POPI ACT – 1 JULY 2021

As you may be aware, The POPI Act is in effect from 1 July 2021.

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General

“Physical strength will get you to the start line. But mental strength will get you to the finish line”

Nedbank Running Club Vaal Triangle clubhouse at Kollege Park Primary school (Glanville street) Vanderbilpark

Welcome again to all our members in 2026 with the 2nd newsletter of the year. A big welcome to our members of 2025 who have already registered again and a special word of welcome to all our new members who joined us for the first time at Nedbank Running Club Vanderbijlpark. We trust that you feel welcome already with the green team and that you will wear your new club colors with pride. We have drawn some top athletes in 2026 and they are already making their marks in events. We are looking forward for 2026 and to be part of your performances in 2026.

We once again want to thank Nedbank and all our sponsors for the continuous support. Without this support it would be difficult to achieve the results we as club experience every year. We as Nedbank Running Club Vanderbijlpark promise to keep on making you proud when and whenever we compete in our beloved green in 2026.

Just to comment on our attire. We all signed the Code of Conduct where it is stipulated that we must wear the correct attire, especially the shorts, during all events we compete at.

Gerda Pretorius and Salome Naude handle all club related enquiries as well as all running gear. The contact number for Gerda is 072 209 9906 and for Salome it is 083 635 8573. Salome will be available every Tuesday at the clubhouse from 17:00. Gerda and Pierre are currently in Australia visiting their children and will only back in South Africa on the 11^th of May 2026.

We as management hope that you will enjoy our newsletter of the month and if you want to share information or an article to be published, please feel free to send it to my email address namely johanstr2@gmail.com. It would be much appreciated as this is the monthly newsletter of all our members. If you want to share results, as many already do, please feel free to send it to my WhatsApp number 083 651 5170 as well. Looking forward to share some “good feel” stories in the newsletter.

Unfortunately, in February 2026 we were shocked by the sudden and tragic passing of one of our members, Paulus Mofokeng, who was tragically killed on his bicycle on Friday the 20^th of February when he was on his way to work at Kollegepark Primary school. Our condolences to his family during this tragic time. We as a club hosted a Memorial walk for him and this was well attended by our club members as well as all the AVT clubs. Teachers and learners from Kollegepark also attended this and may his soul rest in peace. We attach some of the photos of the walk and of his funeral.

Other bad news for Nedbank Running Club Vanderbijlpark is that Tracey Olivier left the club and AVT to further her career at North West University from the beginning of March 2026. Tracey we will miss your dedication, hard work and anchor of Track and Field not only at our club, but for the whole of the Vaal Triangle as well. We wish you however everything of the best with the next chapter of your career and life.

We are truly fortunate that Shaun Powell stepped in to take her place as Chairperson of Track and Field. Shaun is well known in the Track and Field fraternity and we know that he will do his best for the Club and Province.

We also want to welcome Carla Ackerman to our management team as an additional member. We know that Carla will fit in perfectly and that she will make a huge contribution towards the club.

Carla is on the left of the picture

Registration 2026

Registration can be done in the following manner:

Members can register at the clubhouse on Tuesdays from 17:00. Members can also register for 2026 using the following method:

ASA as well as the Nedbank Running Club’s registration forms must be completed.
Just sent your email address to johanstr2@gmail.com and the forms will gladly be forwarded to you.
Please complete all forms and email it with your proof of payment to the email address of Pierre Pretorius, pierre@marvibex.com and Johan Strydom, johanstr2@gmail.com
The 2026 fees are available on the Nedbank Running Club registration form.
Suggestion is to download the requested forms and complete it before you go to the Club to register. That will save you valuable time.
Payment for license and membership fees can be done directly in the following Nedbank account:

NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB VANDERBIJLPARK

BRANCH VAAL MALL – 189137

ACCOUNT NUMBER – 1891012398

REFERENCE – NAME & SURNAME AND LICENSE NUMBER IF AVAILABLE

(Example Johan Strydom P4)

We do have a card machine available for registration at the clubhouse. With this we want to urge our athletes to register as soon as possible to make the most of your ASA license number for the whole of 2026

Athletics Vaal Triangle’s Awards Function 2026

AVT Executive management from which 8 are Nedbank members

On the 18^th of February 2026 AVT had their annual awards function at Kollegepark Primary school, and it was a huge success. Congratulations to all our athletes who were invited and who were presented with an award.

2025 was a year marked with great performances and it showed at the event. Here are some statistics for 2025:

17 of 43 athletes who won medals for AVT came from our club
AVT won 52 individual medals. Nedbank athletes won 21 of those medals (9 Gold, 7 Silver and 5 Bronze)
AVT won 4 Team medals and athletes of Nedbank were involved in two of them. Two of our girls were part of the team who won the Gold medal in the 4x100 meter relay. Three of our lady athletes were part of the team who won the Bronze medal at the ASA Cross Country Championships
Chris van Niekerk represented South Africa at two World championships (World Indoor and World Senior Track and Field Championships. Chris was named as Athletics Vaal Triangle’s Sportsperson for 2025.Unfortunately, Chris was already back in the USA when the Awards function took place, but his proud mother, Marika, received the awards on his behalf.
Two of our members Sabata Kumalo and Tracey Olivier were part of teams as managers representing South Africa Internationally and were awarded for this honor.

The following members of Nedbank Running Club Vanderbijlpark received awards on the evening:

Track and Field

Emma de Clercq

Emma de Clercq – Won the Gold medal in the 1200m G11 at the ASA

Sub-Youth Championships

Miane de Clercq

Miane de Clercq – Won the Gold medal in the 1500m G13 at the ASA

Sub-Youth Championships

Dunay Kapp

Dunay Kapp – Won the Silver medal G11 Shotput at the ASA Sub-Youth Championships

Chandre O'Grady (On the right)

Chandre O’Grady – Won the team Gold medal in the 4x100m Relay G13 at the ASA Sub-Youth Championships

Sienna Roos – Won the Silver medal in the 75mH G13 and the team Gold medal in the 4x100m Relay G13 at the ASA Sub-Youth Championships

Chris van Niekerk (Mother received awards on his behalf)

Chris van Niekerk – Represented South Africa at the World Athletics Indoor Championships and at the Senior World Athletics Championships
Chris was also named as the 2025 Sportsperson for

Athletics Vaal Triangle

Road Running

Miane de Clercq

Miane de Clercq – Won the Gold medal G11-13 at the ASA 1-Miler Championships

Helene van Rooyen

Helene van Rooyen – Won the Gold medal W40-49 at the ASA 21.1km Championships and the SAMA Gold medal in her agecategory

Won the Silver medal W40-49 at the ASA 10km

Championships and the Silver medal in her age category

Masters Track and Field

Sibusiso Ndhlela

Sibusiso Ndhlela – Won the Gold medal in the 1500m M45-49 at the SAMA Championships
Won Silver medals in the 800m and 1500m M45-49 at

the SAMA Championships

Won the Bronze medal in the 400m M45-49 at the SAMA

Liesl Bezuidenhout

Liesl Bezuidenhout – Won the Bronze medal 100m W50-54 at the SAMA Championships

Hermie Rossouw

Hermie Rossouw – Won Bronze medals in the 200m and 400m LH M50-54 at the SAMA Championships

Cross Country

Emma de Clercq

Emma de Clercq – Won the Silver medal G11 at the ASA Cross Country Championships

Selna van As

Selna van As – Won Gold medals in the G17 4km and Youth 2km at the ASA Cross Country Championships

Franna van der Westhuizen

Franna van der Westhuizen – Won the Gold medal B12 at the ASA Cros Country Championships

Helene van Rooyen

Helene van Rooyen – Won the Bronze medal W40-44 at the Cross Country Championships

Louise/ Paulina and Beaulah on the right

Beaulah Valentin/ Louise Britz/Paulina Mokoena – Won the team Bronze medal W55-59 at the ASA Cross Country Championships

Management

Sabata Kumalo – International Technical Official at the CAA Junior Track and Field Championships

Tracey Olivier - ASA Team manager at the CAA Junior Track and Field Championships
ASA Team Manager for World Indoor Track and Field Championships
ASA Team Manager for World Track and Field Championships

Time Trials – Harry Marx

We want to invite ALL members, including new members, to come and join us every Tuesday at 17:15 for the Time Trials. Let us all make a big effort in 2026 and commit to attend more time trials in 2026.

Come and experience the company of fellow members for a 2,4,6 and 8km run, even a 1km and 10km run will be accommodated. The course is properly marked to prevent participants from getting lost and it is very safe. Walkers are also more than welcome to come and join. Please come and join us and experience this with fellow members. Time Trials are important to measure your progress from week to week and we can see in the results how participants better themselves on a weekly basis.

Reminder that at the end of the year, a trophy is awarded to the most loyal supporter of the time trials and a financial incentive and free membership for the following year is included in this.

27/01/2026

03/02/2026

10/02/2026

17/02/2026

Club Athlete of the month

Harry Marx was chosen as Club Person for January 2026 for his excellent performance at the Berts Brick’s half marathon

Congratulations Harry, we are proud of you!

Club person for February 2026 will be announced in our next newsletter. There were a few candidates and that just shows that we are privileged with the abundance of talent in our club

Cross Country – Chairperson Beaulah Valentin

Our chairperson is busy with the planning and qualifying criteria for 2026 and we will share it with all when it is available and approved.

Nedbank will be hosting the AVT championships again this year and all detail will be provided soon.

Road Running – Chairperson Joggie van der Sandt

Please remember to forward your results for recognition in 2026.

Tuks Sappi 10km